The UN said on Friday that time is running out to get aid into Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, after 20 days of encirclement by Houthi forces. The Houthis are blocking the road linking Taiz to Aden, the seat of the internationally recognized government, and aid agencies warned of a fast-developing emergency.
Why it matters: Residents face shortages of food and medical care as hospitals run low on supplies.
Oxfam aid workers said Taiz, a city of more than 900,000 people largely encircled by Houthi forces, is running out of water, fuel and fresh food. Tanks and gunfire marked renewed fighting on the city's outskirts, and Iran has launched a diplomatic initiative to bring Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to talks.
Why it matters: Yemen already faces one of the world's worst hunger crises, and the siege threatens hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Oxfam said the humanitarian crisis in Taiz, a city of more than 900,000 people, is becoming unmanageable as water, fuel and fresh food run out. Houthi forces have largely encircled the city and cut most supply routes as fighting intensifies.
Why it matters: Hundreds of thousands of civilians face shortages of basic necessities.